DON EVERALL (AVIATION), LTD.: United Kingdom (1946-1961). Local Midlands businessman Don Everall purchases an Auster J/1 Autocrat in September 1946 and from his base at Wolverhampton begins an ad hoc charter operation, Modern Transport (Wolverhampton), Ltd. During the next five years, Modern Transport undertakes a variety of nonscheduled passenger and cargo services, including many from such other airports as those Leicester, Coventry, and Birmingham. Three additional Auster Autocrats, a Miles M.38 Messenger, and a DH-89A are purchased.
Lees-Hill Aviation (Birmingham), Ltd. and its Dragon Rapide are purchased and merged on September 5, 1951. The amalgamation results in the small, renamed carrier, Don Everall (Aviation), Ltd., and a new base at Birmingham. During the summer of 1952, ad hoc passenger charters are flown Wolverhampton and Birmingham to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Bookings for the year total 1,087.
Another DH-89A is acquired in April 1953, along with several scheduled routes that are opened for the summer season: Birmingham to Jersey and Guernsey and to Weston-super-Mare via Cardiff and Wolverhampton to the Isle of Man. Coventry and Leicester join Birmingham in 1954 as departure points to the Channel Islands while Coventry is also a stop on the Isle of Man service.
Passenger boardings climb to 5,765.
Scheduled Birmingham-Isle of Man flights commence in May 1955 and another Auster Autocrat is purchased in August.
Another DH-89A joins the fleet in February 1956; however, the Dragon Rapide acquired from Lees-Hill Aviation in 1951 is destroyed in a Berkeswell crash on October 7. In April 1957, the first Douglas DC-3 is acquired and is assigned to the company’s scheduled routes; the Douglas occasionally offers inclusive-tour charter flight to Switzerland, France, and Yugoslavia. The first DH-89A, purchased in 1949, is withdrawn in July 1958.
Another DC-3 is purchased in January 1959, allowing the company to further expand its inclusive-tour services. On July 7, a Dragon Rapide is lost at Leverstock, Herts.
The DH-89A portion of the fleet consists of but one machine in the first quarter of 1960.
The second DC-3, with 3 crew and 28 passengers, fails its initial climb away from Birmingham on March 5 and crashes; although the aircraft must be written off, there are no fatalities.
The need for additional equipment occasions Don Everall to purchase two Vickers 634 Viking 1Bs, the first of which arrives at Birmingham on May 18. One of the two new additions, with three crew, is lost off Heraklion, Greece, during an August 24 all-cargo charter; there are no survivors. A leased Viking from Maitland Drewery Aviation, Ltd. replaces it for a month. On November 21, the company is purchased by Air Safaris, Ltd. and merged under the new owner’s name, Don Everall receiving a seat on the company board.
DONALDSON INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS, LTD.: United Kingdom (1964-1974). Although formed in 1964 as a subsidiary of Glasgow-based Waverly Shipping Company, Donaldson International undertakes no flight activities for five years. Setting up at London (LGW) and equipped with three Bristol Britannia 312s, the company flies inclusive tours and charters to destinations in Europe and North America beginning in April 1969. At the conclusion of the summer tourist season, a total of 40,598 passengers have been booked.
Similar operations are undertaken during summer 1970. One Britannia is withdrawn in November. In December, two Boeing 707-321s are purchased from Pan American World Airways (1).
During the second quarter of 1971, the two American-made aircraft are received. For the summer season, these two jetliners and three turboprops are available, the former replacing the latter on North American flights.
The remaining Britannias are converted to freighter status, one of which is withdrawn in March 1972 followed by the other two in October and December, respectively. Meanwhile, the B-707-321s fly affinity group charters to Asia and in June, a third B-707-321 is delivered, followed by a fourth in October. At year’s end, a Boeing is chartered to Bangladesh Biman Airlines, Ltd. to fly weekly London (LGW)-Dacca service.
In January and February 1973, the company is cited twice by the U. S. Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for abuse of its affinity group charter rights. In April, however, the U. K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requires that additional funding be found to back the transatlantic charter operation. As a result, two Boeings are returned to Pan American World Airways (1), cutting the fleet to just two jetliners. Transatlantic flights London (LGW) and Prestwick-New York and Toronto commence in June; however, the number is drastically reduced.
In early 1974, the B-707-321s returned in 1973 are reacquired and one is immediately converted to all-cargo configuration. On May 1, two of the carrier’s aircraft begin flying Iraqi Airways’ international services to Europe while the Mideast airline awaits its purchased equipment.
Although the contract is scheduled to run through October, it cannot be concluded as Donaldson International declares bankruptcy on August 8, and ceases operations. Its equipment is returned to Pan American World Airways (1) the next day.
DONAVIA(DONSKIE AVIALINII): Russia (1994-2000). Donavia is established at Rostov-on-Don on August 18, 1993 to offer passenger and cargo charters, primarily toward the Mideast. Shareholding is divided between company employees (51%), regional government (20%), and private investors (29%). Pavel D. Duznikov is appointed general director and he inaugurates revenue services with 15 Tupolev Tu-154Bs and an unspecified number of Antonov Yak-40s and An-12s.
En route from Ashkhabad to Rostov-on-Don via Makhachkala, on October 25, 1994, a Yak-40 with 27 passengers is taken over by a lone assailant, who requires that the plane put down back at Makhachkala, from which it has just taken off. The pirate demands a $2-million ransom and negotiations continue for two days, during which time 26 passengers are released. Time runs out on October 27 and as police prepare to storm the Yak, the pirate sets off a homemade bomb, committing suicide. The two crewmen are able to escape the blast, which destroys the jetliner.
Enplanements for the first full year of service total 1,345,772. Donavia operates three dozen Russian-made airliners during 1995, but still has a mixed traffic year.
Passenger boardings drop 6.1% to 1,268,400, but cargo carriage is up 4.3% to 21.7 million FTKs.
Airline employment stands at 2,000 in 1996. The carrier’s 34 aircraft transport a total of 1,180,880 passengers, a 6.9% decrease.
Domestic destinations visited in 1997 include Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Minsk, Tashkent, Ashkhabad, Tyumen, Ufa, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Omsk, Tchita, Novosibirsk, Samara Bratsk, and Yenevan. The carrier also flies to Dusseldorf and Dubai under the marketing name Don Airlines. Customer bookings rise 3% to 1,216,000.
Flights continue in 1998 and passenger boardings plunge 20.2% to 399,000.
On July 1, 1999, the carrier’s management is accused of financial irregularities. Company pilots, a week later, complain publicly about the slow speed of an investigation into the allegations.
In collaboration with Avia Express Cruise, 10 regularly scheduled return flights between Moscow and Donetsk open on July 13; seven of the flights are provided by Avia Express and three by Donavia.
As part of an equalization of tariffs with Aeroflot Russian International Airlines (ARIA), Donavia increases its ticket prices on February 15,2000. On July 26, a 51% stake is purchased by Aeroflot Russian International Airlines (ARIA), which renames the carrier Aeroflot-Don.
DORADO WINGS: United States (1963-1981). Henry G. Wolf forms this dedicated carrier in late 1963 to provide passenger transport from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, St. Thomas in the U. S. Virgin Islands, and most importantly, to the Dorado Beach Hotel Airport. Employing nine Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders and a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, closed charters are inaugurated between the three destinations in October 1964.
The fleet in 1980 includes 3 new British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31s, 2 Piper PA-28 Aztecs, 1 Navajo, and 10 Islanders. With these the company is able to initiate scheduled services open to the public from San Juan to Mayaguez, St. Thomas, and Tortola.
Enplanements rise 14% to 79,745.
On May 28, 1981, the entire operation is sold to Crownair System, which reforms the small regional and renames it Crown Air on November 2.
DORUK TOURISM TRADE & INDUSTRY, INC.: Antalya Airport, Antalya, Turkey; Phone 90 (242) 311-4316; Fax 90 (242) 3210924; Year Founded 1994. As its name implies, the rotary-wing division of Doruk is established at Antalya in 1994 to transport tourists to historic sites in the local vicinity. Additional cargo and passenger charters are also undertaken as contracted.
By 2000, Managing Director Akcicek Oral oversees the work of 4 full-time and 14 part-time pilots. The fleet includes 8 Mil Mi-8 helicopters from Russia.
DORVAL AIR TRANSPORT, INC.: Canada (1954-1960). With a base at Dorval, Quebec, this concern is formed in 1954 to operate allcargo services specifically in support of construction of the North American Air Defense Line (DEW) across Canada. Revenue operations commence with 5 Curtiss C-46 Commandos and continue until the carrier ceases operations in 1960.
DOUGLAS AIRWAYS (PTY.), LTD.: Papua New Guinea (19651990). This commuter line was originally known as Aerial Tours (Pty.), Ltd. and was formed by D. B. Douglas at Port Moresby on March 10, 1965. Later, in addition to charter and scenic tour flights, the company is reorganized, renamed, and receives an operating permit and concessions for scheduled services to more than 50 locations in the nation’s Central, East Sepik, Gulf, Northern, Western, and West Sepik provinces.
A fatal accident occurs on December 23, 1979 when a lightplane crashes in the Owen Stanley Mountains (15 dead). Employing two Partenavia P-68Bs, three Beech B-55 Barons, and a Cessna 206, frequencies for these third-level revenue services are increased by 1981.
During the middle 1980s, the fleet is upgraded by the addition of two Australian-made Government Aircraft Factories GAF Nomad N-22Bs, nine Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders, and two Beech B-80 Queen Airs. Facing stiff competition from larger operators, the company begins to fall on hard times as traffic falls and expenses rise.
In 1986, Managing Director Douglas’ fleet comprises three Beech 55s, two Nomads, one P.68, and one Islander. Unable to maintain independent viability, Douglas allows significant shareholding to be taken by Air Niugini in 1987.
Operations continue apace in 1988-1989, during which years the fleet grows to include 22 aircraft: 2 Nomads, 9 Islanders, 3 BN-2A Trislanders, 2 Queen Airs, 1 Beech Baron, 3 Cessna 206s, and 2 Partenavia P-68Bs.
Financial woes become terminal in 1990 and the company is forced to cease operations in the fall.
DOVAIR: United States (1976-1977). Founded in 1976 and briefly operated as Baltimore Airways, Dovair undertakes daily Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander roundtrips linking its base of Dover, Delaware, with Philadelphia. Services cease in early 1977.
World History
